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Advertising demons

A response.

The suggestion from Dr Jean Debarros that advertising for wine clubs should be banned from The Psychologist (Letters, April 2017) reflects a flaw shared by many psychologists and psychotherapists. Practitioners may consider themselves tolerant, objective, and their opinions evidence-based. Yet, there is little self-awareness that these beliefs are often value-driven, and reflect a political and social crusade masquerading as ‘scientific’ psychological opinion.

Of course, all such crusades, stretching back to the Victorian campaigns against demon drink, have made claim to be scientific and morally progressive. One can only suggest that a greater knowledge of the history of the temperance movement would not go amiss. Cheers!